Cecilia Braekhus Beats Kali Reis
Carson (May 5, 2018)- The hype surrounding undisputed women’s welterweight champion Cecilia “The First Lady” Braekhus (33-0 9KO’s) or Norway was validated on HBO last night. In the most significant (for political reasons) fight on the network Breakhus brought her undefeated record and slew of titles to the US for the first women’s bout televised on HBO.
Former middleweight champion Kali Reis (13-7-1 4KO’s) put on an excellent performance against Braekhus who is roundly called the best female fighter in the world.
Braekhus boxed well using a jab to set the table and follow up with hooks in combination. Never out of the fight Reis landed power shots earning the respect of Braekhus until the seventh when an overhand right stunned the Norwegian dropping her to a knee.
Cecilia Braekhus gets up from a seventh rd. knockdown. Photo Lina Baker
During the last half of the fight Reis and Braekhus boxed at a high level showing the women of the sport have tremendous talent and can compete at a level equal to the elite men.
Born in Colombia and adopted as a baby and raised in Norway, Braekhus is a national treasure in the European country. Her movement to the states shows a change of attitude towards women’s boxing since the rise of two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields whom already broke the barrier of serving as the main-event of a televised fight on Showtime.
Cecilia Braekhus lands a right hook. Photo: Lina Baker
On scores of 97-92 and 96-93 (twice) Braekhus earned the unanimous decision over Reis from Rhode Island.
“She hit me with a few hard shots that surprised me” Braekhus said after the fight.
HBO’s Max Kellerman pressed the question of possible bouts with Lightweight Katie Taylor or Middleweight Claressa Shields of they would move to middleweight to a short “yes definitely”.
“We need to have a rematch we gave the fans a really good fight, definitely we should do a rematch.”
